Phonograph.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

E. M. ROBINSON.

- PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.22, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 813,670. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. E. M. ROBINSON.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLIGATION FILED MAILZZ, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

97% Euyerzeflf 12055725072,

W67ZZ077',

UNITED STATES ATENTo -nron.

EUGENE M. ROBINS-ON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHOlNOGRAPH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed March 22,1905. Serial No- 2151,470.

To' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE M. Ronnvsos,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and-"State of Ill nois, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Phonographs, of which the folowing a s ecification.

.Mylnvention re ates to gho'nographs, and particularly to means for re ucing the volume ro ref sound-waves passing through-the horn of well-known commercial type of phonographhorn, whereby I obtain great accuracy of regulation of thevolume of soundrwaves passing through the horn.

My invention consists in this particular detail in the use of a horn having a substantially right-angled. joint therein, there being in one of the angular portions of this horna rotatable valve adapted to be rotated from without to regulate the volume of soundwaves passingfronl one of the-angular portions 0 the born to the other.

The invention also consists in thenovel form of mounting for a sound-restricting mechanism, so that it can be detachably placed in the horn at some suitable point between the reproduce-r and the end of the horn.

My invention further consists in the com bination of parts and details of construction which will be be. hereinafter more fully de' scribed and claimed as the specification pro- (reeds. I

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of one of the commercial forms of phonograph having my preferred form" of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a: portionof the horn being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing the preferred form of m invention, in assembled position. 3 s ows an alternative forrnof valve. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional detail views ofdifierent parts of the structure of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 isa plan'detail view showing means for restricting at ume of sound passinfg two different. ploints fthe volume of sound passing throug the horn. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view of theleft-hand arm of Fig. 7, showing in detail a mounting for the restricting mechanism, which mounting can on a proper roportioning of the arts be aplied to t e horn at any desired point in its ength. Fig. 9 is a .detail exterior of the mounting ust referred to.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of a reproducer,'show-. mg the method ofattaching the mounting of Fig. 9 thereto. Fig. ll'is a plan detail view showing two means for restricting the volthrough the horh at different points, one'o said means bein prac tically'within the-reproducer itselffi Fig plan view of the is a detail sectional view on line 12of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional :plan view taken'on line .13 ofFig. 12. Fig. 14-is a sectionaldetail view takenon line.14 of Fig. 12.

'- Again referring to the drawings, numeral 15 represents a case of an ordlna phonograph having within it mechanism or rotatmg an ordinary record 16, said mechanism being wound up b means of a crank-handle 17 and the record eing controlled by means of a switch 18.

Extending from one side of the case 15 a supiporting-arm 20,: in which the horn is' carrie shown the horn is made in three parts a bell portion 21, a portion22, and-a portion 23.

he ortion 22 islhorizontally.rotatably secure to the u per portion 25 oftthe. support "20, and the bel 21 is also rotatably secured in this support 25 in communication with the portion 21, the connections being made by means of a mechanism 26 and '27. shown in detail and not here-in question.) The bell of the horn is made rotatable horizontally, so'that it may be turned to direct the sound coming from the instrument in different directions, while theportion 22 is made horizontally rotatable, so that the needleoint attached 'to the reproducer, to be herelnafter described, may travelupon. the record from the outside of' the record toward its center.29, as is usual in such instruments, orin the opposite direction, if desired. Qn the smaller end of theportion 22 of the horn and preferably at right angles thereto is an elbow 30. This elbow 30 is usually'made, as stated,

at a right angle to the portion 22 of the horn;

but it may be at any angle convenient, so long as it is distinct enough to allow of the valve 40,- to be hereinafter described, working to close the sound-passage in pipe 22. Journaled in tl1is elb0w is a bearing portion 31, formin r the end of the portion 23 of parts should be sufliciently accurate so that with only the parts now assembled present SOUIld-WZLVCSWlll pass from.the portion 23 through the orifice in the elbowv into the: portion 22 of the horn and that the U-shaped' portion 23 of the horn may be rotated in a vertical plane upon the .bearin 21-withou't sound-waves escapin through t ie joint. At

A the opposite end of t e U-shapedportion 23 {ofthe horn is secured a commercial repro- ..ducer 37, having extending from its lower 20:. side a needle 38, enga in g the record 16. -The device as thus describe constitutes one of the commercial forms of phonographs, and I make no claim to it.

In the application of the invention ofmy ,prior patent, above referred to, to this ma- I'chine mount inside of the bearing end 31 of the U-shaped portions 23 of the born a tubular valve 40, closed in the portion 41,

bearin a ainst the cap 33, heretofore describei his tubularvalve has a circucular opening 42 cut in one side normally registerin with the'opcning 35-, heretofore describedt in the bearing 31, the elb w 30, and

entering*"-the portion 22 of the horn. To

3 some portion of this tubular valve 40, preferably the end 41 I secure a wire rod or shaft 45, extending thlUll"'ll the cap 33 and loosely IDOUIILGd therein, so that by rotating the shaft or red the valve 40;may be rotated on its axis insile of the bearing'31. This shaft 45 is after passing through the cap 33 bent around in a loop 46, then downward at right angles to the shaft 45 in fine 47, the same preferably bearing slightlyagainst the cap 33, and thus holding the tubular valve 40 in contact with the inside of the cap 33, as shown. On the end of the portion 47 is a handle portion 48, adapted to be taken hold of or touched by the operator. All of the parts shown in Fig. 3 are so (proportioned that when the valve 40 is iii wi -open position, as in Fig. 3, there is a clear passage away from the ortion 23of .the horn into the portion 22 o the hor n'and that by, rotating the handle 48,- thereby rotating; the valve 40 on its axis, the solid portions of the valve 'will gradually ass over the o ni 35, hereto- .fore descrihed, so that w 'en t e valve has been rotated from a quarter to a thirdof a revolution the passage away from the ortion 23 to the portion 22 of the'horn wi I be closed and that except for leakage around the valve 40 sound-waves coming from the reproducer through the portion 22 ofthe her are absolutely prevented from passing into theportion 22 and through the bell 21 of the horn. It will be noted that my valve 40 as thus constructed does not in any way interfere with the rotation of theportion 23 ol the horn on its axis in a vertical plane for the purpose of removing the needle 38, for which purpose it is primarily made rotatable in the commercial machines of the type shown and described. In order to make this type of machine most effective, I also place upon the side of the re reducer 37 which is not con-- nected with t e horn a cap 50 of the type shown and described ,in my said prior patent adapted to prevent sound -vibrations escaping into the-room from that side of the. reproducer. With an instrun'ient thus equipped I canb'y sim'pl'y turning the handle 48 ful y open, partially open, or wholly close the valve 40,- thereby e iciently and accu- 'rately regulating the volume of sound passing from the reproducerthrough the horn,

' and thus adapting thd-device for use either it; a room where the full capa'city of the instrument isdesired or to a small room, where onl y a small portion of such capacity is desiml. This is particular] true in the use of handrecord upon the p onograph,which with Ill." open horn are usually unpleasantly loud and harsh when-the instrument is operated in a small room. 4

' My prior patentabove referred t.o"showand claims means for regulating the volume of sound at two points inthe born between" the reproducer and the end of the horn. in Figs. 7 and S I haveshown two constructions for thus equipping a phonograph of the type here shown. In each case the one at the 'oint between the portions 22 and 23 in the cm is that just described. In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I show immediately ad jacent to the reproducer a rotatable dish 52, corresponding to that shown in my prior patent mounted in a section of horn- 1pc 53, there being a. bandle 54 outside oft e born by means of which the operator can rotate the disk 5'2 to different positions to regulate the volume of soundwaves passing throu b .the'horn. This section of horn-pipe '53 is made relatively short and has one end enlarged at 55 to fit over the end 56 of the portion 23 ,of the horn, and it has its other end 57 reduced-to fit inside of a projecting ring 58 on the reproducer. The ring 58 on .the re roducer is adapted to fit over the end 56 when the pipe-joint 53 is entirely discarded. Consequently by this construction it is possible to use the instrument either with or without the regulating-disk 52,

asdesired. By changing the size of this pipe jo nt or section 53 and making proper parts correspond ll1 to 56 and 58 in the other parts of the horn this regulating-disk 52 or other. i

suitable means in pipe-joint 53 may be in' serted at any portion of the horn where thereis a joint between the reproducer and the me treme outside end of the horn. in order to insiifetlie valve 52 beingin proper position,

so that the handle 54 wil be in the right position to betaken hold of by the operator, I

place a pin 59 upon the inside of the collar;58

2 to slide backward and forward adjacent to this disk 61 between guides 65 and between the reproducer-case pro er, 37, and the cap-62,

' there being in this s idable member 64 a hole 63, normally registering with the hole 63 in the disk 61 heretofore described. By mov} 'ing this fiat member 64 crosswise of the reproducer, as shown in Fig. 12, the slidable member 64 may be made to partially or wholly close the hole in the, disk 61, thereby regulating the volume of sound-waves. passing from the reproducer into the horn. This feature of my invention is shown, described, and claimed in (and therefore reserved for) my application, Serial No. 293,985, filed December30,1905.

By the use of my preferred form of mechanism first described in combination with either of the alternative mechanisms just de-' scribed at the different points in the horn I am able to get a Wonderfully-accurate regulation of the volume of sound-waves passing through the horn.

' In If 1g. 3 I have shown an alternative construction of valve for use. in the horn-joint heretofore described. Piston 70 is mounted on piston-rod 71 and adapted to slide along the inside of bearing 31 until it passes opening 35 and shuts oil the sound. If desired, the valve may be substituted for this pis- -ton 70 andthus moved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

jl In a phonograph in combination with a angle adapted to be moved to two diflerent positions to close off the admission of sound- ;waves from one angular portion of the born to the other portion of the horn adjacent to said angle.

2. In a honograph in combination with a record an reproducer inoperative connec-.

tion therewith; a horn attached to said reproducerhaving a distinct an 'le in it between its endsand a'valve mpunted in one angular said angle.

portion 'of'the' horn adjacent to said angle ,adapted -to be rotated on its axis from outside of the horn to close' 'oif the admission of sound-waves from one angular. portion of the horn to the other portion of the horn adj acent to said angle- 3. In a phonograph in combination with a record and reproducer in operative connection therewith; a horn attached to said reproducer having a distinct angle in it-between its ends; and a tubular valve mounted n one an gular portion of the horn adjacent to said angle adapted to bemoved to two different positions" to close-off the admission of soundwaves from one angular ortionof the horn to the other portion of t e horn adjacent to 4. In a phonograph in combination with a record and reproducer in operative connection therewith; a. horn attached to said repro- ,ducer having'a distinct angle in it between its ends and a tubular valve mounted in one angular portion of the horn adj aoent to said angle adapted to be rotated on its axis to close oil the admission of sound-waves from one angular. ortioii of the horn to the other por-.

tion of t 1e horn adjacent to said angle.

5. In a honograph'in combination with a record anri a reproducer in operative connection therewith; a horn attached to said reproducer made in two pieces joining each other at a distinct angle, one of said horn-pieces being rotatable with reference to the other at said anglejoint and a valve mounted in the joint connecting the said two'portions of the horn adapted to be moved from outside of the horn to regulate the opening connecting the two portions of the horn.

6. In a 'honograph in combination with a record and a reproducer in operative connection therewith; a horn attached to said reproducer made in two pieces or portions joining each othera t it'dl'St-Hmi angle one of the horn portions being rotatable with reference to the other portionand a tubularrotata'ble valve mounted in the joint connecting the two pieces of the horn adapted to be moved from outside the horn to regulate the opening connecting the two portions of the horn.

7. In a honograph incombination with a record an' a reproducer in operative connection therdwith a horn made in two parts, an. elbow on one 'of said parts to which the other part of the horn is connected and a rotatable tubular valve mounted in said elbow ada ted to normally allow sound-waves to pass rom one portion of the horn to the other and adapted to be rotated on its axisfrom outside the horn to close said passage-way.

8. In a honograph in combination with a record and a reproducer in operative connection therewith; a horn made in two parts, an elbowon one of said-parts, a bearing on the end of the other part journaled in said elbow, a cap closing the end of the second horn part adjacent to said elbow, a crank-handle attached to a shaft extending through said cap and; a tubular rotatable valve rigidly mount- -'ed on saidshaft inside the bearing of the sec- 0nd portion of the horn adapted to normally .allow air to pass from one ortion of the horn to the other and adapte to be rotated by turning said crank-handle to close said passage-Way. 2

Y 9. In a phonograph in combination with a. record having a reprodueer in operative connection therewith a horn made in two parts, an elbow 30 on one of said parts, a bearing 31 on the other of said horn parts, jonrnaled within said elbow 30, a shoulder 32 on the second horn portion bearing against said el-- how, a cap 33 also bearing against said elbow and screws threaded into said bearing 31, a rotatable valve 40 journaled inside said bearing 31, ashaftAS secured to said valve 40 passing through the cap 33, a crank-handle 48 connected to'said shaft 45 by which said valve Ina'v be rotated, the whole bein'g'so arranged t at in one position sound waves.

from the reproducer may pass from one of 25.

said horn portions through the valve iIlin) the other portion of the horn and that rotating; said valve 40 on *itsaxis first reduces and finally substantially ciits ofi the passageuof sound-Waves through the horn all of the parts o being'shaped, arranged and dis Jose-d only stant-i'ally as shown and described tor the pur posesset forth.

10. As an article of manufacture for use in mechanism of the class described, a short horn-section 53 having damper mechanism mounted tliefeir, said horn section being; adapted when inserted in a break orcut in the horn toiit over one portiq'n of the horn ad jacent to said out and inside" the other horn 4o portion adjacent to said cut aside-scribed.

In witness vqhere'of 'Ihave hereunto sub l. scribed my naInein the presence of'two wit nesses.

EUGENE M. ROBIIQQSON'. 1 Witnessesc DWIGHT B-JCHEEVER,

IjIOWARD M. 

